New lawmaker hopes to improve technology infrastructure in rural Idaho

New Idaho lawmaker Megan Blanksma hopes to shine a spotlight on the lack of technology infrastructure in rural Idaho, which she says places farmers and ranchers at a competitive disadvantage.  “I want to try to see what we can do to push out this technological infrastructure into rural areas and improve it,” said Blanksma, a Hammett farmer. “We have to have good, solid internet for us to compete.”Blanksma is one of four new farmers or ranchers that will serve in the Idaho Legislature when it convenes in January.She said improving internet access and other technology infrastructure in rural parts of the state will be her top priority.Farmers and ranchers rely on reliable internet access to do things like run irrigation pivots and soil moisture sensors and file reports required by USDA and industry, she said.